Wellington: Way to go welly

Kaka at Zealandia. Photo / Jeff McEwan / Capture Studios

Take the kids to the capital, there's plenty to do, writes Alexia Santamaria.

Everyone loves a family trip to Wellington. It's such a walkable, easy, harbourside city with great food and activities for kids of all ages, many indoors (helpful if the weather is not in your favour). Of course, there's also excellent coffee, wine, chocolate and craft beer if the kids are testing your patience. What more could a family need these school holidays?

Thunderbirds are Go: Miniatures stage tour

If you're not a Lord of the Rings fan, you may think there's nothing for you at Weta Workshop; but anyone of any age, Thunderbirds fan or not, will love the Miniatures stage tour. Watch the series online before you visit, to make it even more interesting. You can see the full-scale working model of Tracy Island and Lady Penelope's mansion that they use for the current series and learn all about how they created some of the elements (less
high-tech than you think). There's just something about teeny tiny versions of real life that bring out the child in all of us, and if you're a fan of the modern, or original series, this will be all your F.A.B dreams come true.

Food

There are numerous child-friendly food options in Wellington, which don't all involve parents consuming chicken nuggets twice a day. Head to the Night Markets in Cuba St if you're there on a Friday night, or the Harbourside Markets if you're around on Sunday morning. Both have super tasty options for an international or local bite. Capital Market isn't flash but is a great food-court sort of place if you're looking for sushi, curries, noodles, dumplings and some of the best banh mi in town. Breweries are another option — Hey Day has board games and family-friendly food, and Whistling Sisters is a large space where you can have a tasting flight and they can have bar food. Recently opened 1154 Pastaria is great if your family loves pasta, and make sure not to miss the gigantic salted caramel cookies from Leed St Bakery in Hannah's Lane (the kids won't be the only ones disgracing themselves around those).

Wellington Museum

Exhibition at Wellington Museum. Photo / Alexia Santamaria

The

Wellington Museum

is a great space for kids, giving them (and you) a delightful insight into Wellington's fascinating history, all inside a beautiful 1892 heritage building. Head directly to The Attic and plonk yourself down in front of Ngā Hau, a whirring, spinning multi-screened "time machine" that will take you through Wellington's past. Other highlights are props and costumes from What We Do in the Shadows, Māori creation legends narrated by a hologram, a heartbreaking insight into the Wahine disaster, and The Attic itself with all its weird and wonderful paraphernalia.

The whole family will enjoy a walk round Zealandia, Wellington's incredible 225ha urban eco sanctuary in Karori. Take the tiny boat a few minutes up to the start of the path and spend a couple of hours in this predator-free environment where kākā, tūī, kākāriki and other gorgeous New Zealand birds fly freely. You can even see tuatara poking their heads out of their burrows to bask in the sun — so different to seeing them behind glass. Night walks are incredibly popular with those wanting to see a kiwi in its natural environment — with more than 140 Little Spotteds roaming the park, the odds are highly in your favour. The guided tours are excellent and help you get the most from the Zealandia experience.

Toi Art

If you think you've seen everything in

Te Papa

, think again. Toi Art is the museum's new art gallery (opened in March this year) and is currently housing a fantastic exhibition called Curious Creatures & Marvellous Monsters. Kids will love finding the eight small fairy doors scattered through the exhibition, hanging out in the silver space age-looking shelter and making their own shadow puppets to hang and illuminate with torches. Although this only runs until the beginning of November, other, more permanent parts of the gallery will appeal to kids of all ages (Tiffany Singh's room that changes colour according to your choice is a massive hit with the teen Instagram crowd). There are interactive activities dotted around the whole space so it's guaranteed you won't need to suffer any "bored in the art gallery" faces. And of course, who can resist Michael Parekowhai's gigantic fibreglass elephant, hanging from the ceiling till early November.

Toi Art at Te Papa. Photo / Alexia Santamaria

FACT BOX

GETTING THERE
Jetstar and Air New Zealand fly several times a day into Wellington Airport.

STAYING THERE
The new Double Tree Hilton is centrally located and an easy walk to most major attractions.

DETAILS
wellingtonnz.com